So close to a second

Experience tells

Jacob Murphy

Tactical anaylsis

What did you make of Rafa’s tactics last night? Here’s Chris Waugh’s verdict.

10:53Stuart Jamieson

Rafa's response

Rafa’s verdict on last night’s defeat.

“I think it is quite a simple analysis, a really good first half for 90 minutes. Everything was right and we worked hard.

“We had a clear idea of what to do and done well.

“Then we conceded a goal, the second one made the difference in terms of our mentality. We did have a chance from Hayden later on but we couldn’t score.

“The second half was more difficult because the belief we had in the second half had gone.

10:39Stuart Jamieson

Miss of the season?

Dear me.

10:37Stuart Jamieson

Marco Silva

Hull City manager Marco Silva (Image: PA)

Watford are unwilling to release Marco Silva to Everton at any price, sources close to the Hertfordshire club say.Reports today suggest the Merseysiders are preparing to make an increased offer to the Hornets to secure the highly-rated Portuguese boss, as they seek a successor for Ronald Koeman.But it is understood Watford are unwilling to listen to offers.Silva is believed to be determined to leave, but is reluctant to resign.Silva, who will take charge of Watford in today’s Premier League match at home to West Ham, said on Friday: “I don’t know about an offer or not, or what’s happened. It’s for the board, the owners to talk to each other about the situation. For me it’s a normal situation. What’s most important in this moment is the game (against) West Ham.“I look at this situation like when a player performs well, and (another club) tries to approach the owner or club.“I have read many things during the week - that I didn’t want to talk to anybody; after that I want (to talk).”

10:27Stuart Jamieson

Mourinho verdict

Jose Mourinho praised Rafa Benitez

This is a close as you get to a compliment from Jose Mourinho.

“We didn’t start well but I don’t blame my players, I blame in the positive sense, I blame Benitez.

“He is very experienced, very intelligent.

“Their team was very well organised, they start very well, creating us problems, we couldn’t play sometimes in our defensive areas.

“But the goal was like a wake-up call and the team reacted very, very, well and very strong.”

How the table looks

Zlatan the lion

Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again compared himself to a lion after returning from a knee injury in the 4-1 win over Newcastle at Old Trafford.The Swedish forward had previously said “lions do not compare themselves to humans” when asked to rate himself against other strikers in the Premier League.Ibrahimovic, out since April with a knee ligament injury, repeated the reference when asked to comment about his recovery.Following his return as a second-half substitute in the win at Old Trafford, Ibrahimovic was asked if he ever doubted he would return.He told BT Sport 1: “No, because lions they don’t recover like humans.”The Swede added: “It’s special. Different day, same quality. I am not worried. I am not worried at all because I know what I do. I train hard. I sacrificed a lot.“It is not easy, especially in my case. It was not like I went on vacation. I had a different summer because I was without a contract. As soon as I signed I wanted to focus on the team. I wanted to give something to help the team as best as possible.“It’s about coming back and making a statement. I’m just thankful I can play football again.”